Penn State’s James Franklin addresses Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles tampering allegations
STATE COLLEGE — James Franklin addressed his role in the tampering allegations brought against the Philadelphia Eagles in the signing of former Penn State star Saquon Barkley.
Franklin spoke after Tuesday’s practice at Holuba Hall, his first media availability since last Tuesday’s press conference in which he made comments that sparked the allegations.
On Tuesday, Franklin agreed with Barkley that he misinterpreted what he thought was a direct conversation between the free agent running back and Eagles general manager Howie Roseman.
“I had a 10-minute conversation with Saquon, and I just assumed and connected the dots that weren’t there,” Franklin said. “All those conversations went through his agent.”
Last week, news broke that the NFL was investigating whether or not the Eagles were guilty of tampering while negotiating with Barkley. The former New York Giants running back agreed to sign a three-year contract last Monday when the NFL’s negotiating period opened.
The Eagles denied any improper contact with Barkley after comments by Franklin at last Tuesday’s spring media day created headlines around the league.
Franklin, responding to a question about the Coplay native signing with the Eagles, said: “For him now to come back and be able to play within the state in Philadelphia, he said that was one of the first things that (Eagles general manager) Howie (Roseman) said to him on the phone as part of kind of his sales pitch to him was not only the Philadelphia Eagles and that, but obviously the connection with Penn State and the fan bases, as well.”
During the NFL’s negotiating period, from last Monday through last Wednesday, any direct contact between Barkley and the Eagles would have been impermissible. General managers are permitted to speak to players’ agents. If they go outside of that and speak directly to a player, that’s tampering, which could result in a team penalty (fine, loss of draft picks, etc.).
Barkley refuted the tampering allegations at his introductory press conference in Philadelphia last Thursday, saying Franklin “misinterpreted” the situation.
“The truth was the sales pitch to Penn State, how many Penn State fans are Philadelphia Eagles fans,” Barkley added. “But that was through my agent and my agent told me that. It happens. I’m going to let Philly handle that.”
